[bitontheslide]

TSB will close 164 of its branches and cut 960 jobs, blaming "a significant shift in customer behaviour" as more customers bank online.

The figure is in addition to the 82 branches it said it would close in November, when it set out plans to save £100m by 2022.

Union Unite described the move as "a dark day for the finance sector".

The bank said the closures were not an "easy decision" and had been accelerated by the pandemic.

From the end of next year TSB will have 290 branches - down from 475 currently.

The bank hopes most of the job cuts will come through voluntary redundancies, and said it would also create 120 new positions.

It did not name which branches would shut, but said those with the lowest footfall would go.

"Our customers are banking differently - with a marked shift to digital banking," said boss Debbie Crosbie.

"This means having the right balance between branches on the high street and our digital platforms, enabling us to offer the very best experience for our personal and business customers across the UK."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-54343392